OUR MISSION

OWN IT celebrates the leaders of today, inspires the leaders of tomorrow, and creates a sustainable and uplifting exchange between them. Our annual conference fosters leadership, empowerment, and intersectionality through accessible workshops and discussion. Our annual festival emphasizes self-care and wellness through activity workshops and connection with others outside of the workplace.

Conference

OWN IT hosts an annual women’s leadership conference designed to bridge the gap between 'What if' and 'I can,' empowering the next generation of women entering the workforce. Through a variety of panels, keynote speakers, and workshops, the conference brings together women from diverse backgrounds, professions, and experiences. Learn more on our About Page!

Festival

OWN IT hosts its annual Festival—the only OWN IT chapter to do so. Celebrating the success of women and nonbinary individuals, the festival highlights the importance of self-care and wellness as essential pillars for excelling in our fields. With a diverse range of vendors and organizations, students can explore unique opportunities. Interested in showcasing your product, service, or entertainment? Contact us!

Melissa Vinding, OWN IT Attendee turned Moderator

“Attending own it my freshman year really opened my eyes to the range of careers possible, including the number of careers one person can have in their life time. This showed me that having multiple interests and not being able to choose just one thing is not so bad after all. I have attended every year since (and now moderated panels) with the goal of exploring what i’m passionate about and connecting with other female professionals who can encourage me along the way.”
Maya Martinez, OWN IT Attendee

“Attending the OWN IT conference for the past 2 years has been nothing but amazing! OWN IT has provided me with the unique opportunity to hear from accomplished women in diverse fields as well as connect with other DWIBers who are interesting in pursing a similar path to me.”
Dung Hoang, OWN IT 2022 Attendee

“I moderated the Entrepreneurship session where I enjoyed speakers' advice on paving your way as a women in business. I can see that it takes a lot of courage to launch a startup so I am inspired by the workshop to take a leap of faith in anything that I believe to be impossible.”
Idara Otu, OWN IT 2024 Keynote Speaker, Former Olympian, Founder of Let Girls Read, Run, Grow

“As the keynote speaker for the 2024 OWN IT Conference at UC Davis, I was thoroughly impressed by the meticulous planning and seamless execution of every detail. The attentiveness and engagement of the attendees further underscored the event's success, making it a truly memorable experience for all involved.”